Even when the Nets were winning games in bunches, it was sometimes perplexing.

Why wasn’t Aaron Williams playing more?

Well, while the Nets are circling the drain this season, Williams can barely crack the rotation now.

During yesterday’s shoot-around, the 6-foot-9 center admitted his DNP in Portland on Sunday night was discouraging. Two nights before that, he played two measly minutes in Seattle.

“Yeah, there was a little frustration,” he said. “I’d be lying to say it wasn’t.

“It was more frustrating not getting the win. We haven’t had a win in a while. The way we’re playing now, the bottom line is to get some wins.”

The Nets were 2-11 with a nine-game losing streak entering last night’s clash with Charlotte. Head coach Lawrence Frank admitted during yesterday’s shoot-around that everyone associated with the team (including himself) could do a better job.

Frank inserted rookie Nenad Krstic into Williams’ former role as the big man off the bench, giving Krstic 26 minutes in the previous two games.

“We’re just searching,” Frank said. “Aaron is the ultimate professional.

“The guy, he’s had a lot to do with our success. When you’re in the midst of a losing streak, you’re just trying to find different answers. Unfortunately, guys get the wrong end of that.

“It’s a long season. Aaron’s still going to be a contributor in everything we do. He’s a great professional in the sense he still supports his teammates, and he’s definitely going to help us.”

The 33-year-old Williams is 11th on the team in scoring with his 2.7 points per game average and eighth with 2.9 rebounds per game.

Williams also has the third-worst plus/minus rating in the NBA: opponents had outscored the Nets by 17.7 points when he was in the game. Jason Collins, the team’s starting center, had the best plus/minus rating on the team at plus 16.4 points entering last night.

That’s at least one piece of hard evidence that Frank isn’t making a random decision or shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

“You have to have a reason for doing everything you do, and it has to be thought out,” Frank said. “You have to think you’re still putting people in a position to be successful, what you’re doing is what’s best for the team.

“That’s always the overriding answer to any question you have.”

Frank explained the situation with Williams, who said he totally understands the Nets desperately need a spark – any spark – to get rolling. According to a published report, Williams is trade bait. But he seemed surprised when asked about it.

“What do you mean?” he responded. “I’m not asking for a trade or anything like that.

“I’m not trying to jump ship. I’m a Net right now, and that’s all I worry about.”